Reciprocating safety-switch.



H. S. TITTLE.

RECIPROCAT'ING SAFETY SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED NOV-27. 191s.

Patented A r. 16,1918,

2 SHEETS--SHEET I. ,1 i

91 INVENTOR.

h. 5. 7'! TTLE ATTORNEY.

H. S. TITTLE.

'RECIPROCATING sum SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 27, 1916- 1,263,150. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F/Gl 4 FIE 5 INVENTOR.

65 ports two inverted U shaped frames 6 and HORATIO S. TITTLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

UNITED STATES BECIPROCATING SAFETY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed November 27, 1916. Serial No. 133,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORATIO S. TITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Reciprocating Safety- Switch, of which the following is a specification in such full and clear terms as will enable those skilled in the art to construct and use the same.

This invention relates to a reciprocating safety switch having means for delivering a current to the apparatus to be started without the current passing through the fuses during the starting period after which the current is delivered to the said apparatus through the protecting fuse thereby pre venting the apparatus from being injured by an undue overload.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double break for each circuit, this particular switch being intended for three wire work.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the switch will be automatically returned to the neutral position with the switch contact blades at a maximum distance from the live contacts.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

. An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing in which the same reference numeral is applied to the same portion throughout, but I am aware that there may be many modifications thereof.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the com plete switch.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch with the cover broken away and the operating handle removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch with a portion of the cover being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the switch with the side supporting bars removed therefrom. A

Fig. 5 is an end view of the switch with the cover shown in section looking from the left Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the switch looking from the right Fig. 1, the cover of the switch being shown in section.

The numeral 1 indicates the switch base which is provided with a box like cover 2, having a. door 3 secured to the cover by means of hinges 4 and 5. The base 1 sup- 7, said frames being suitably connected to the base by means of bolts 8 to 11 inclusive. The frames 6 and 7 support four bars 12 to 15 inclusive which are suitably bolted thereto, and which bars extend parallel to the base 1 and form the track for the support of the slidable switch member. The slidable switch member is composed of three T shaped fiber bars 16, 17 and 18, which bars are secured on two cross bars 19 and 20 a distance apart thereon by means of the fiber bushings 21 to 28 inclusive, certain of said bushings acting as spacers between the said bars and the others acting as washers under the nuts 29 to 32 inclusive which are threaded on the cross bars 19 and 20. Each of the cross bars 19 and 20 also carries two rollers as indicated at 33 to 36 inclusive, said rollers being secured on the shafts by the nuts 37 and riding on the bars 13 and 15 under the bars 12 and 14. At one end the bars 16 to 18 inclusive support three knife blades 38. 39 and 40 which extend above and below said bars. At the opposite end the bars 16 to 18 inclusive have blades 41 to 43 inclusive at the upper end of the cross member connected with the caps 44, 45 and 46 which support the fuses 47, 48 and 49. At the lower end of the cross member of the bars 16 to 18 inclusive there are three switch blades 50, 51 and 52 connected with the three caps 53 to 55 inclusive, which form the contacts for the lower ends of the fuses.

On the base there is a split fiber block 56, 57, which forms a bearing for the shaft 58 carrying the handle 59. The shaft 58 is provided with two slotted arms 60 61, said arms each inclosing a small roller 62 on a stub shaft 63 supported by a plate 64 connected with the cross bars 19 and 20. There are two of the arms and two of the rollers and bars connecting them with the traveling switch contact carrying members. The blocks 56, 57 are suitably secured together and carry three double contact members 66 to 68 inclusive, and they support two fiber barriers 69 and 70. The double contacts 66 to 68 face in opposite directions as indicated with respect to the similar double contacts 72, 73 and 74 shown in Fig. 3. One series of contacts is adapted to connect with the blades 38 to 40 while the other and oppositely placed series is adapted to contact with the switch points 50 to 52 inclusive. A channel bar 75 is secured to the frames 6 and 7 y means of ts 16. mendse si shaped bar supports two barrier plates 78, 79, and three fiber blocks 80, 81 and 82, which fiber blocks carry the contacts 7 2 to 7'1 inclusive. Each of the contacts 72 to 74 inclusive has a member 84; going over the top of its fiber block and connecting the contact on one side with the oppositely placed contact on the other side as indicated at 85 in Fig. 2. On the top of the frames 6 and 7 are two blocks 86, 87, which support two upwardly extending hooks 88, 89. The hooks 88, 89 have springs 90, 91 connected therewith, which springs extend downwardly and connect respectively with the arms 61, 60. In order to lock the switch in the neutral position, theboss 92 is provided on the side of the box 2 which boss has a hole to receive one end of a bolt 93 which is threaded into a lug 94 on the operating lever 59, and said bolt is provided with a head having two holes therein as indicated at 95' so that it can only be operated with a suitable key. In order to prevent the switch from remaining in the running position when the cover is removed for the purpose of insertin a fresh fuse, the latch 96 is provided, sai latch bein carried by a short rod 97 projecting into t e box 2 and supported on a crank arm 98. The crank arm is pivoted on a bracket 99 inside the box and has a rod 100 connected therewith, which rod passes through three brackets 101, 102, 103, and bears upon the door 3, a spiral spring 104 being compressed when the door is closed and thereby pushing the latch 96 far enou h out to engage the lever 95. A spring latc 105 holds the door closed so that as soon as the door is opened the sprin 104 causes the latch 96 to be disengage from the operating lever 95 whereupon the springs 90 and 91 immediately restore the switch to the neutral position. The base 1 may have suitable holes bored therein at one end for the house side inlet wires and suitable holes as indicated at 107 for the power side inlet wires.

The operation of the switch is as follows :Assuming a motor to be started, the switch operating lever 95 is pulled to the left Fig. 1 until the contact blades 38 to 40 inclusive engage their corresponding contacts, whereupon the motor will receive current direct from the line without the interposition of a protecting fuse and will be able to take the current high enough to start it without danger of injury to any fuses. As soon as the motor has ot up to speed, the riperator will swing thelever 59 to the right ig. 1 until it catches under the latch 96 whereupon the motor will receive current through the fuses 47 to 49 inclusive, which fuses will give the necessary protection to the motor and the switch will remain closed as on a may b ne y.

Wade at can fiber block's has used hereinior the inlfllfltflra it will; be clear to those skilled in the art that any suitable insulatin material may take the place of the fiber b ocks mentioned.

In order to prevent a person from renewing the fuses when the switch blades at the fuses are in contact, the spring 104 is at: ranged so that when the door 3 opens, it Wm pull the pin 96 in toward the switch box, thereby preventing it from engaging the sprin 59 on the lever 59 so that the switch wi 1 be returned to the natural position by the springs 90, 91.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as fol lows 1. A double (xmtact double throw switch comprising a pair of fixed double contacts, a reciprocating bar carrying a switch blade on one end thereof adapted to make a connection with two of said contacts, a 'r of new tacts on the other end of said ar, a hm connecting the latter contacts and means to reciprocate said bar to bri the 6m carried thereby into connection with either pair of fixed contacts at will.

2. A double contact double throw switch comprising a pair of fixed double contacts, I reciprocating bar carrying a switch blade on one end thereof adapted to make a comm tion with two of said contacts, a pair 0f 00! tacts on the other end of said bar, a fuse con necting the latte contacts and means to reciprocate said bar to bring the contacts euried thereby into connection with either of fixed contacts at will, and means to redo! the contact carrying bar to a neutral po' sition.

3. A double contact double throw switch comprising a pai of fixed double cmtaeta, a reciprocating bar carrying a switch blade 1 one end thereof adapted to make a com tion with two of said contacts, a pair of alltacts on the other end of said her, a in. I

connecting the latter contacts and means to reciprocate the bar to bring the con carried thereby into connection with pair of fixed contacts at will, a pair of m'olr; able slotted arms adjacent the bar for operating it and springs for rlstoring the bar and contacts carried to the neutral position.

4. A double contact double throw wild! e M a! pain at 8-6 I l l double contacts, reciprocating bars carrying switch blades at one end thereof to make connections with pairs of said contacts, pairs of contacts at the other end of said bars, fuses connecting the latter contacts in pairs, means to reciprocate said bars to bring the contacts carried thereby into connection with either of the opposite pairs of fixed contacts at will, and means to restore the reciprocating bars and contacts carried thereby to the neutral position.

6. A double contact double throw switch comprising a plurality of pairs of fixed double contacts, reciprocating bars carrying switch blades at one end thereof to make connections with pairs of said contacts, pairs of contacts at the other end of said bars, fuses connecting the latter contacts in pairs and means to reciprocate said bars to bring the contacts carried thereby into connection with either of the opposite pairs of fixed contacts at will.

7. A double contact double throw switch comprising a pair of fixed double contacts, a reciprocatlng bar carrying a switch blade on one end thereof adapted to connect with two of said contacts, a pair of contacts on the other end of said bar, a fuse connecting the latter contacts, rollers for supporting the said bar, and means to reciprocate said bar to bring the contacts carried thereby into connection with either pair of fixed contacts at will.

8. A double contact double throw switch comprising a pair of fixed double contacts, a

reciprocating bar carrying a switch blade on one end thereof adapted to make a connection with two of said contacts, a pair of contacts on the other end of said bar, a fuse connecting the latter contacts, means to re ciprocate said bar to bring the contacts carried thereby into connection with either pair of fixed contacts at will, an inclosure for said switch, a lock thereon, an operating lever adapted to engage said lock whereby the reciprocating bar will be held in one position with the current passing through the fuses and means to restore the reciprocating bar to the neutral position when the lock is released.

9. A double contact double throw switch comprising a pair of fixed double contacts, a reciprocating bar carrying a switch blade on one end thereof adapted to make a connection with two of said contacts on the other end of said bar, a fuse connecting the latter contacts, means to reciprocate said bar to bring its contacts into connection with either pair of fixed contacts, an operating lever, a lock for securing said operating lever and the movable contacts in a given position, an inclosure for the switch, a door therefor, and means whereby the reciprocating bar and contacts carried thereby will be restored to the neutral position when the door is opened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of November, A. D.

HORATIO S. TITTLE.

copies of this potent may be obtained for live cent: each, by addressing the "commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

